Recitation By Abdulwali Al Arkani

If we look back in history we will find that Allah (swt) has always assigned womenfolk with important roles in the Islamic Movement. Never have been women sidelined in any era. The best examples are of Hazrat Khadija (ra) and Hazrat Ayesha (ra). Both have played an important role in the life of our beloved Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). So when Allah (swt) did not marginalize womenfolk at any point during the Islamic Movement then how can this movement progress without women’s participation in the current times?

Now let us take this discussion forward and discuss the position of women in the light of the Holy Quran and hadith. If we do not understand the Islamic perspective of women according to the Quran and hadith then it may lead to the moral decay of our society.

Women play the role of a mother, wife and daughter. There are several instances in the Quran where we find commandments related to a mother. For example: “And We ordained upon man concerning his parents; his mother bore him enduring weakness upon weakness, and his suckling is up to two years - therefore be thankful to Me and to your parents; finally towards Me is the return”. (31:14)

A man came to the Prophet and said: O Messenger of Allah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me? He replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So he replied: "Your mother." The man then asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: "Your mother." The man then asked: Then who? So he replied: "Then your father." (Sahîh Bukhârî 5971 and Sahîh Muslim 7/2).

The obvious reason why so much importance has been given to a mother is the fact that she has to bear tremendous burden and responsibility. She has to suffer lot of hardships to give birth to a baby which include problems during pregnancy, the severe labor pains and lastly breast feeding the child. This is why the most important obligation upon a person is to show gratitude towards his/her mother.

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said in a popular narration that, ‘Paradise lies at the feet of your mother' [Musnad Ahmad, Sunan An-Nasâ’i, Sunan Ibn Mâjah]

There are numerous other Quranic verses and ahadith that highlight the important status of mothers, or in other words the status of women in Islam. Islam has honored mothers much more than any other religion, ideology or cultures.

Allah (swt) says in Surah Nisa, verse 7: For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much - an obligatory share. This verse clearly shows that Islam entitles a woman to inherit property, whether large or small. If any person snatches this right of a woman then he may be answerable to Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgment.